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Minerals

A mineral is a naturally occurring chemical compound usually of crystalline form and not produced by life processes. A mineral has one specific chemical composition, whereas a rock can be an aggregate of different minerals or mineraloids. The study of minerals is called mineralogy. To meet the definition of “mineral” used by most geologists, a substance must meet five requirements:

Anhydrite

Anhydrite is one of the minerals that make up the rocks. Chemical structure similar to Gypsum but does not contain water. Formula is CaSO4.There is a sedimentary basin in large areas where sea water evaporates. It is usually found in salt deposits with gypsum next to it. Anhydrite may form on the coastline or tidal flat deposits caused by the evaporation of seawater.

Barite

The barium sulfate barite takes its name from the Greek word barys, which means “heavy” a reference to its high specific gravity. It has also been called heavy spar. Barite crystals are sometimes tinged yellow, blue, or brown. Golden barite comes from South Dakota. Crystals are well formed, usually either prismatic or tabular.

Molybdenite

A molybdenum sulfide, molybdenite is the most important source of molybdenum, which is an important element in high-strength steels. Molybdenite was originally thought to be lead, and its name is derived from the Greek word for lead, molybdos. It was recognized as a distinct mineral by the Swedish chemist Carl Scheele in 1778.

Pyrite (Fool’s Gold)

Known since antiquity, pyrite is commonly referred to as “fool’s gold.” Although much lighter than gold, its brassy color and relatively high density misled many novice prospectors. Its name is derived from the Greek word pyr, meaning “fire,” because it emits sparks when struck by iron.

Stibnite

The principal ore of antimony, stibnite is antimony sulfide. Its name comes from the Latin stibium. Lead-gray to silvery gray in color, it often develops a black, iridescent tarnish on exposure to light. It normally occurs as elongated, prismatic crystals that may be bent or twisted.

Orpiment

An arsenic sulfide, orpiment is a soft yellow or orange mineral. Widely distributed, it is typically powdery or massive, but it is also found as cleavable, columnar, or foliated masses. Distinct crystals are uncommon, but when found they are short prisms.

Realgar (Ruby Sulfur)

An important ore of arsenic, realgar is bright red or orange in color. Crystals are not often found, but when they occur they are short, prismatic, and striated. Realgar mostly occurs as coarse to fine granular masses and as encrustations.

Cinnabar (Mercury)

A mercury sulfide, cinnabar takes its name from the Persian zinjirfrah and Arabic zinjafr, which mean “dragon’s blood.” It is bright scarlet to deep grayish red in color. It is the major source of mercury.

Chalcopyrite

Chalcopyrite is a copper include sulfide mineral .It has to formula CuFeS2.It is usually seed brassy to golden yellow color .Also copper is most important ore mineral thousands of years. Hardness of 3.5 – 4 on the Mohs scale and diagnostic properties streak is black green

Galena

Galena is most abundant and widely found sulfide mineral and other name is lead glance .It is most important minerals of lead and silver.Crystal system is cubic ,isometric system and xpl features not observed. It is often associated with the minerals sphalerite, calcite and fluorite.

Spinel

Spinel is the name of both an individual mineral and of a group of metal-oxide minerals that share the same crystal structure. Minerals in this group include gahnite, franklinite, and chromite. Spinel is found as glassy, hard octahedra, or as grains or masses.

Goethite

Named after the German mineralogist Johann Wolfgang von Goethe in 1806, goethite is a common mineral. It can be brownish yellow, reddish brown, or dark brown in color, depending on the size of the crystal in the specimen—small crystals appear lighter, and larger ones darker.